CUA Alumnus Jon Voight Visits Campus

Jon Voight speaks with fellow thespian Patrick Guetti, who played Maximillian in the music school's production of Candide.

At the invitation of Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., president of Catholic University, one of CUA's most famous alumni visited campus today. Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight, B.A. 1960, who is in town filming a movie, returned to CUA for the first time since his graduation.

Voight visited Nugent Hall, where he met with Father O'Connell as well as staff and students who work in the Office of the President. He recounted fond memories of his student days.

After lunch at the Monocle downtown, Father O'Connell took him on a tour of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center, where scores of administrators, staff and, especially, students shook hands with him, took pictures and got his autograph.

The highlight of his tour was a visit to the first floor of the Pryzbyla Center to see the Cardinal logo that he had painted on the hardwood of the basketball court in the university's old gymnasium.

Cut out of the gym floor and preserved, the actor's artwork has been on display in the Pryzbyla Center since September 2006. While he was there, Voight signed the painting at the urging of Father O'Connell and a score of spectators. Voight was in the Pryzbyla Center for about 45 minutes, spending most of the time chatting with students.

"Jon Voight's return to alma mater today was very special," said Father O'Connell. "He was so engaged with the students. I could see that he loved the experience, and it was obvious that they did, too. He told me that he definitely wants to stay in touch with CUA," said Father O'Connell.